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Archive for the ‘Irritable Bowel Syndrome’ Category

The digestive system is very sensitive. Genetics, diet, stress, hormones, infections and the immune system are all capable of producing symptoms such as upset stomach, bloating, cramping, constipation and diarrhea. In fact, an estimated one tenth of the world’s population is affected by a particularly puzzling digestive disorder called irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This disorder, which has no known cause, usually appears in adults in their mid to late twenties to early thirties. Two times as many women as men are affected by IBS. Because the cause of IBS is unknown, treatment is sometimes difficult, but treatment options for IBS sufferers do exist.

IBS Causes

IBS is a functional disorder of the intestines, especially the colon.

While doctors are not sure what causes the digestive system to malfunction in so many young adults, they suspect that IBS is the result of oversensitivity of the muscles and nerves of the intestinal tract. Such sensitivity would cause the intestines to contract too forcefully after a meal, leading to abdominal discomfort and other gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea and constipation.

IBS Symptoms

The symptoms of IBS vary from patient to patient, but they most commonly include diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain that is either linked to or relieved by a bowel movement. Other common symptoms include gas, stools containing white mucous, cramping and feeling bloated. Some IBS sufferers also experience the feeling that they need to defecate without being able to pass any stool.

Symptoms often worsen during times of stress and after sufferers eat particular foods. Women often report that symptoms are more severe during menstrual periods.

IBS Diagnosis

Because there are no specific tests that can confirm IBS, it is a diagnosis of exclusion. This means that doctors need to rule out other possible causes of a patient’s symptoms before they can diagnose that patient with IBS. Common elements of an IBS workup include blood work, imaging studies and gastric function tests. If a doctor can find no other cause for the symptoms and the patient’s history is consistent with the disorder, he or she will make a diagnosis of IBS.

IBS Treatment

Doctors treat IBS based on the particular symptoms of each patient. Medications that doctors commonly use for IBS sufferers include antidepressants, laxatives and antispasmodic drugs. In addition, treatment plans usually include avoidance of IBS triggers through diet change and stress management strategies.

The Bottom Line

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common digestive disorder. While the problem is not life threatening, IBS symptoms can drastically decrease a person’s quality of life. For this reason, anyone with chronic diarrhea, constipation or other IBS symptoms should see a doctor. With proper treatment, IBS patients can minimize or eliminate symptoms and greatly increase the quality of their lives.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a malady that affects millions of Americans every year, causing countless amounts of suffering, pain, and torment through chronic symptoms that never seem to go away. What’s worse about this condition is that there is no cure, only courses of treatment that alleviate but do not eliminate the symptoms that cause so much discomfort. While it is true that IBS is not as serious as other gastro-intestinal diseases, it is still serious enough to warrant an article such as this. To better inform you about its effects, I will explain irritable bowel syndrome diarrhea and ways you can help to limit this condition – and have a better life in the process.

What is IBS?

As mentioned above, IBS is a condition that targets and affects the gastro-intestinal system – or, the network of organs that help you digest and process food.

These organs include the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestine, the large intestine, and the colon. Problems with this system can result in lowered nutrition, decreased health, and serious complications that can drastically lower the quality of life you experience. No one is really sure as to what the causes of IBS are. One possible explanation is that IBS is just a collection of symptoms caused by bacterial infection, or a viral pathogen. Parasitic infection may also be a cause.  Other reasons given include poor immune systems (usually because of infections), poor nutrition, and other, more serious disorders like Crohn’s disease or inflammatory bowel disease. No matter what the causes, however, it is clear that IBS results in chronic pain, abdominal inflammation, constipation, and, of course, diarrhea.

What about Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Diarrhea?

Few symptoms of IBS are as annoying and discomforting as irritable bowel syndrome diarrhea, not only because of the inconvenience it affords, but the social stigma that can be associated with it.

Diarrhea in general is typically the way the body deals with extreme imbalances in the gastro-intestinal system. In this way, repeated and frequent watery stools and discharge is a method by which the body responds to the disorders or afflictions that mess with how the GI system operates. Normally food is digested and processed without much difficulty; with diarrhea, the imbalance results in frequent trips to the bathroom that results in the aforementioned watery stool. Diarrhea is dangerous because it can dehydrate someone rapidly. Needless to say, irritable bowel syndrome diarrhea can be bothersome as well as problematic.

How Do You Treat This?

The most effective way to treat irritable bowel syndrome diarrhea is to increase one’s intake of fluids. You should drink plenty of water – at least four glasses a day – if you have IBS, because this syndrome dehydrates your body and causes stress that you don’t need. You’ll get most of your water intake daily from what you eat, but if you have IBS then you’ll need to consume a little more. Do not drink more than 12 liters a day, though; that could send you into shock. Just try and drink a bottle of water every two to three hours and you’ll be fine. If your diarrhea doesn’t get any better, over-the-counter medications such as Imodium can go a long way in helping you out.

The Effects of Vitamins for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can vary from person to person. There are people who experience symptoms of diarrhea with their irritable bowel syndrome while there are some people who experience constipation. Because of this, there are different effects of vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome. Vitamins generally cause chemical reactions in the stomach and these reactions can either be beneficial or harmful to a person’s IBS. Here are some common effects of vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome:

1) Vitamin C – Also known as ascorbic acid, this vitamin has a laxative effect. People should be careful in taking this vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome as it can cause diarrhea when it reaches the stomach. People already suffering from symptoms of diarrhea should monitor their intake of vitamin C very closely.

Taking this vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome may also cause gas and bloating. This occurs when the acid of the vitamin reacts with the alkaline setting of the lower intestinal tract. You can try to observe this reaction by dropping a couple of mentos on a glass of diet coke.

2) Calcium – This vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome can have either a laxative or constipating effect on a person, depending on the type. People suffering from IBS should try to discover hat type of calcium is right for them:

a) Calcium carbonate – This vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome contains no magnesium and can relieve symptoms of diarrhea. This is the best vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome which is prone to diarrhea (IBS-D).

b) Calcium citrate – This type of vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome contains magnesium and thus, can trigger symptoms of diarrhea. This is the best for people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome which is prone to constipation (IBS-C).

A good advice to follow when taking calcium vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome is to keep the amount at a maximum of 500 mg. This is in order to prevent triggering symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. It is also a good idea to take this vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome with vitamin D as this helps in the absorption of these nutrients.

3) Iron – This vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome can be quite constipating. People taking this vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome are also prone to stomach upsets. It is also a known fact that Iron interferes with the absorption of calcium.

Tips in taking vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome:

1) Try to get balanced doses of your vitamins – When buying supplements, make sure that those supplements deliver the right amounts of vitamins you need. It is important that a certain supplement does not contain a megadose of any vitamin as this could trigger symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

2) Always take your vitamins with food – It is important that you not take your vitamins on an empty stomach. Doing so could increase the discomfort brought about by the chemical reactions caused by the vitamins. This is especially true with acidic vitamins like vitamin C.

3) Consult a pharmacist – Remember that there are different effects of vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome. If you are unsure regarding which vitamin supplement to take, you should get help from a pharmacist in finding the mildest vitamin for irritable bowel syndrome.

4) Take separate vitamins separately – Vitamins for irritable bowel syndrome also react in various ways with each other. For the best absorption of nutrients, you should try taking vitamins one type at a time.